The 52-year-old actress claims that her significant weight gain was caused by menopause, in addition to the stress of having an empty nest after her children moved out.

Genie Francis also stated in the interview that she had spent years bouncing between different crash diets, before finally deciding to work with Nutrisystem.

“I wanted something different this time. A lot of the diets I’ve been on have been extreme and taught me how to starve myself. But this has taught me how to feed myself.”

The actress, who still plans to lose an additional 20 pounds with the program, admits that Nutrisystem did not make her feel like she was depriving herself.

An average daily menu from Nutrisystem may include eggs and pancakes (breakfast), a large salad and pizza (lunch), and a half-cup of yogurt as a snack. Dinner might include an entree such as chicken breast along with a half-cup of brown rice and a cup of broccoli along with an ice cream sandwich as dessert.

Other celebrities who have credited Nutrisystem for their weight loss results over the years include singer Janet Jackson and actress Marie Osmond.

However, Genie Francis states that her weight loss results were also caused by her exercise routine. Genie went to the gym five times each week to reach her current weight. People reports that she spends three days lifting weights with a personal trainer and focuses on cardio workouts for two days.

“The first five weeks I dragged myself to that gym, I didn’t want to do it. But then something flips and you want to go. The weight loss and toning up is almost secondary to me now because I need it just to feel good.”

The longtime actress confessed that she began to experience the pressure to be thin as a 14-year-old actress. At the time, Francis played the role of Laura Spencer on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital.

“The first thing they did after I had been there for three or four months is put Laura [Spencer] on a diet. I totally freaked and it was very hard on me.”

However, her weight loss results have changed the way that she feels and looks at life. Genie Francis admits that she feels positive and looks at the future with excitement and hope.